Monday, 4 March 2013

DIY Tile Wall Art


I kicked my bottom into gear today.. my mums birthday was in January and STILL I hadn't done her birthday present. I've had all the bits and bobs for it for ages so today is the day!!
I found this idea on the net and thought.. hey.. it looks easy and fun. Now that its done I can say.. Its SUPER easy if you follow these steps (learn from my epic failures:)

What you need:

  • Tiles (I got mine from a lovely friend after she did renovations)
  • Pictures (Measure the tile and crop an image you have to fit the tile. I made mine a mm bigger so I could allow for terrible cutting:) You can use just normal computer paper and printer. I had to get mine printed at a print shop because we dont have a printer)
  • Mod podge (type of glue.. you can get it from Spotlight. I got a giant bottle for $29 I think.. but only used a tiny bit of it)
  • Paintbrush
  • Total cost (dont look mum:) under $10 for 9 tiles.
And wallah you have a unique, inexpensive picture for your wall (or my mums wall in this case)

(Excuse the photos.. taken at night (kidlets asleep) and hard to take nice photos when hands covered in glue!)

Step one- Gather everything you need :)

Tiles and pictures
Mod podge and paintbrush

Step Two- Cut pictures at neatly as possible. I tried to use my guillotine thing but found I was far more accurate with good old scissors.


Step Three- Paint back of picture with modpodge. I found doing the tile as well helped the stickyness of it all. But don't faf too much because you don't want the modpodge to dry.



 Step Four- Stick the picture onto the tile and position so its in the center spot of the tile. Then run a heavy object (like another tile or a book) over the surface of the picture to get ride of the bubbles. I tried using a non heavy object so half my pictures are bubble fests :(


Bubble fest!!! SIGH!

 Step Five- Mod podge the front of the picture. I was freaked out that it was too thick but it dries clear :) If you use normal computer paper, it will run a little so you can make it look arty. My paper was slightly glossy because that's what the print company printed my pics on.


 Step Six- If you have a little overhang on the side of the tile. You can sand paper it off. The directions I used said to do this step before you modpodge the front of the pic. Might try this next time, but it worked fine. And also might try make the picture long enough so it wraps around the whole tile.



What not to do: Dont touch it before its done drying.. otherwise this happens :(


And TA DA.... wall art!


Seriously this may be my new way of putting pictures on the wall!! Now you may be asking how I plan to stick them on the wall. When the they are completely dry.. which will take a couple of hours I am going to stick some picture hanger hook things that I got from Spotlight on the back of them. I'm thinking of either using super super glue or no more nails. We will see.
Well this was fun. Can't wait to do more!!!
xo Lau

1 comment:

  1. Laura, this is fantastic!! They look arty and professional. Phil's Mother also mod podges napkins onto canvas and paints the edges ... the first time I saw one I thought she had painted it. Same instructions as above but using canvas block thingy, a napkin (with a picture..).

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